Sergeant First Class Paul Welby is being remembered after passing away on August 21st after a courageous battle with cancer.
“They love him just as much as he loved his country and his community, really,” says Talia Walsh, who worked with Welby on the SGT Jan Argonish Ride.
Born in Scranton, Welby proudly served for 19 years in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, reaching the rank of Master Sergeant. His military service took him to multiple deployments.
Welby served in Kuwait, and family says he was exposed to toxic smoke from burn pits. Experts have linked cancer cases with burn pits in the Middle East.
No matter where he went, family says Welby’s personality always shone through.
“Any time you were around Pauly, everybody was laughing; that was his main goal, to make sure people laughed, and even being one of the younger cousins around him, he always went out of his way to make sure we were okay,” says Pat White, a cousin of Paul’s. He says having him as an older cousin meant Paul was always checking to make sure his younger cousins were okay.
“Paul was there for us at every moment, no matter what, whether it be through Little League, high school, giving me a ride back to college; he was literally one of the coolest people we could have ever asked for,” says White.
For those who served with Paul in the National Guard, he was always someone they could rely on.
“He was completely selfless, and he never complained. As I said, he always had a smile on his face. He always found a way to have a laugh even at the worst times. I mean, he was truly a light,” says Mary Steppacher, who served with Welby in the National Guard.
Above all else, Paul’s family was his world, and his children were his light.
“Everything he did was for them and to show them what a positive member of society should be and a good father is” says Steppacher.
Paul’s service didn’t stop with his time in uniform. He served as the president of Fight-4-Vets, a non-profit that supports local veterans in need.
“Paul would go above and beyond in helping either to raise money or to distribute money to honor the needs of the veterans that they need,” says Walsh.
Welby was also an at-large member of the veterans of foreign wars, a member of American Legion Post 328, and a board member of the NEPA Armed Forces Day parade committee. Organizers say they will continue his work.
His services are Saturday at 10 AM at Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton.